ART | R.I.P. Morgan Freeman
Relax, he's not actually dead. In September 2012, an unknown news source leaked a statement that went viral, announcing that prized actor and voice of God, Morgan Freeman, had died. Still alive and well, Freeman's faux death inspired a new show at Gallery 1313 in which ten artists honour his life and work while examining the culture of celebrity and the convenience of reaction and feedback in the media. The exhibit opens with a reception tonight and closes on the 13th. Drop in on Saturday night during Nuit Blanche should you so desire.
Gallery 1313 (1313 Queen Street West) 7PM Free

BOOZE | Oktoberfest
The Amsterdam brewmasters have concocted three new beers in honour of the month of October and we can only hope one is pumpkin spice flavoured. A special menu will be released for Oktoberfest, the Bavarian beer-swigging, sausage-eating festival, with the featured drinks available in a 1L stein. Festivities begin tonight and continue throughout the weekend with an Oom-Pah Pah band performing on Friday and Saturday night. Dancing is encouraged as is sampling the German-inspired menu and limited edition beers.
Amsterdam BrewHouse on the Lake (245 Queens Quay West) 8PM

VIDEO GAMES | Nintendo Knights X feat. Wordburglar
Ignore GTA V for one night and head to Kensington's Handlebar for Nintendo Knights, a gaming championship in which a mystery cartridge will be revealed at 9:30PM tonight spawning an all-out, retro schoolboy competition on Nintendo consoles. The cartridge, released sometime between 1985 and 1999, will feature multi-player capabilities meaning that competitors will go head-to-head for the Championship Belt. The tournament commences at 10PM and will be followed by a party with performances by jefftheworld and Wordburglar. Games will be revealed with the cartridges but bring your A.
Handlebar (159 Augusta Avenue) 9:30PM $5

PARTY | AGO's 1st Thursday
Looking for a Nuit Blanche sneak peek? AGO's 1st Thursday, the after hours gallery party that takes over the province's largest art space, offers a look at Ai Wei Wei's Forever Bicycles, an interconnected three-dimensional structure of bicycles that is destined to stand in Nathan Philips Square this Saturday night. Of course that all comes at a heightened price—paying the usual general admission price tonight will still get you some great perks like live performances by folk pop artist Sandro Perri and indie gal Jennifer Castle. Additionally, there will be other Nuit Blanche previews, artist talks and dancing with a DJ taking over after the performances. Note that tickets will not get you into the David Bowie is exhibit—for that, you'll have to wait until the November party.
Art Gallery of Ontario (317 Dundas Street West) 7PM $12 advance, $15 door without exhibit

THEATRE | ShakesBeer
The Classical Theatre Project performs Shakespeare's Twelfth Night while brewers serve pints to a thirsty audience, encouraging the same level of rowdiness once seen at The Globe (with less heckling and tomato throwing, of course). A pop-up theatre experience taking place at Artscape Wychwood Barns tonight, ShakesBeer is a booze-riddled event that seeks to liven up the theatre experience to an informal level of fun, bringing back the days of animated Elizabethan audiences. The good people at Denison's will be behind the bars with other local brewers serving at both of tonight's shows. Tickets are available through the ShakesBeer website but this Dora-nominated show closes tonight, so this is your last chance.
Artscape Wychwood Barns (601 Christie Street) 6:30PM, 9PM $33

CONTINUING

Toronto Bourbon Week
Since Friday this festival celebrating the great American corn-based, distilled spirit, has been holding an event a day at various locales, with each event featuring a different bourbon and theme. Bottoms up!

Toronto Palestine Film Festival
One of Toronto's fastest growing festivals opened Saturday. The Toronto Palestine Film Festival features a large program of features and shorts packed into one week with additional talks, panels, director Q&As and art shows littered throughout the festival. Discover Palestinian filmmaking at this cultural festival by purchasing tickets through the TPFF website.
Various locations, September 28-October 4, 2013 6:30PM

ALSO OF NOTE:

• La Bohème
• COMPLEXion
• The Red Panty Diaries
• Because We Can

Have an event you'd like to plug? Submit your own listing to the blogTO Toronto events calendar or contact us directly.